Things you may have not known about this area

There are a few weird things here.  Well, only weird because we're not used to them.

Weirdness in Portland is normal.  Even Portlanders say it's weird here.  I mean, the show "Portlandia" is a little far fetched, but the idea had to originate from something.  If you ask someone from Portland, many people will say that the show is close to the truth.

These things are not necessarily in Portland because we don't actually even live in Portland, we live southwest of Portland.   You could say we are enjoying a good dose of suburbia.  So I guess this list should be titled "Things that are new to us..."

1. No one has an actual mailbox at the end of their driveway.  There are big mailboxes (like P.O. boxes) on the corners in the neighborhoods and you pick up your mail there.  I suppose it is more efficient for the postman, but I miss mailboxes!
2. There is no Walmart close by.  There are multiple "Walmart Neighborhood Market" stores.  I haven't checked them out yet.  I miss cheap prices at Walmart.  Fortunately, I found Fred Meyer. Now THAT was one exciting day for me.  It is a hypermarket similar to Walmart or Super Target.  On top of that, I found it just when I was missing my local Kroger store where I knew where to find everything...and I came to find out that Fred Meyer is owned by Kroger and has pretty much all the same products and more than what our Kroger had.  Awesome!  There are even some Kroger labels.  Aww sweet!  You don't realize how nice it is to know a grocery store until you are in a new huge store and take twice as long to get your shopping done.  Now that I have a baby with nap times and feeding times and limited time in general, knowing a grocery store saves precious moments.
3. It doesn't get that cold here.  That's right.  We are closer to Alaska and Canada than ever before.  But it barely ever snows here!  People bundle up here when it's in the 40s and 50s.  Too bad they haven't experienced walking across the drill field in Blacksburg with a wind chill in the negative teens.  It stays pretty mild but definitely has a rainy season.  When people find out we're new here, they tell us that we've been spoiled by the beautiful weather last winter.  On average, it was sunny 4 days a week.  That's really good.  I expected THE WORST.  I mean, I basically was saying goodbye to the sun until June in my head as we drove (flew) away.  Maybe we were a little prepared because some call Blacksburg "Bleaksburg" because it's not always the greatest weather.  So now I'm nervous as this winter is getting closer which means rain, rain, and more rain.
4. On Interstate 5, the main highway on the west coast, the speed limit is 55 through the Portland area.  Living in Washington DC for our first year of marriage, the speed limit is like 65 on 495 around the city and people go around 75 or 80 most days.  Here, most people drive 55.  Now that is my kind of driving!  
5. You cannot pump your own gas.  I guess because of the unions or something.  You sit in your car, pull up, hand someone your card, and they pump your gas for you.  I guess it is nice to sit in your warm car and not touch the gas handles because who knows what person touched them before you.